Although
Ceres Hall was the first women's dormitory on the North Dakota Agricultural
College campus, it was not the first women's dormitory for the college on campus.
The women were house in the Beals Dormitory building, which was located on Twelfth
Avenue North. After renovations, the building "comfortably accommodate[d] fifty
young ladies" (The Weekly Spectrum, Tuesday, October 1, 1907,
p. 7). In 1909 the State Legislature approved the construction
of a women's building on campus, allocating over $85,000 between 1908-10 for
the construction of Ceres Hall. (Tenth Biennial Report,
November 1, 1910, pp. 361, 364).
Ceres Hall was not the first name choice for the building. In April of 1950, Mrs. Jessamine Slaughter Burgum wrote "When the question came up to build Ceres Hall, it was suggested to name it after the first girl student, who had enrolled from Bismarck. It was agreed, and one trustee asked, 'What was her name?' 'Why, Jessie Slaughter, from Bismarck.' 'Oh, then the students will be calling it 'the Slaughter House' instead of Slaughter Hall,' so they decided to call it Ceres Hall after the Goddess of Wheat, (instead of Meat)" (Hunter, Beacon Across the Prairie, p. 35).
The Spectrum reported a few minor changes made to the original plans. The principal one of which was the enlargement of the northwest wing, the lower floor of which was the kitchen so that it would be three stories high instead of two as originally planned, thus making all the buildings three stories high. In addition to the above change, the east wing of the building was enlarged as to admit a gymnasium above the third story. The large dining room occupied the greater part of the lower floor of the east wing, the lower floor of the west wing was given over to domestic science, and the rest of the floor occupied by kitchens, laundry, hallway, reception room, and cloak rooms.
The second floor of the west wing was devoted to the sewing department and furnished with fitting rooms and lockers. The southeast corner of the second floor of the building contained one large parlor and one smaller one, the two being connected with an arched opening. The entire third floor and a part of the second floor was occupied by the dormitory. The plans, as enlarged, provided for the accommodation of 115 young ladies with comfort and provided for "the very best of facilities for the carrying on the work in domestic science and art" (The Weekly Spectrum, April 13, 1909, p. 8).
Apparently the cafeteria was not initially open when residents first moved in. The Weekly Spectrum of Oct. 4, 1910 reported that "The dining room of Ceres Hall was opened on Friday evening and about one hundred students partook of the first meal. Only the students who were boarding at the old dormitory can be allowed to enter for a few days, as the kitchen apparatus is not in working order. As soon as possible the doors will be thrown open to all who wish to enter."
Plans were finalized in the early 1970s for converting Ceres Hall into all offices. At this point the residents were all male and plans called for moving them to other residence halls. The students protested and the issue eventually went to the State Board of Higher Education. Although part of the building was retained as a men's residence through the 1971-72 academic year, after that time it was converted into offices (The Spectrum, Nov., 2, 1971, p. 1; December 7, 1971, p. 1; February 1, 1972, p. 6).
This was not the end of Ceres life as a residence hall. A small article on page 12 of the September 17, 1976 issue of The Spectrum, noted: "Ceres converted to over flowing housing. - There were almost 110 women in overflow housing last week. The third floor of Ceres Hall was converted back from offices to dorm rooms for 33 of them." Ceres Hall was listed as a residence hall in the 1988-90 NDSU Bulletin.
Architectural Information
"Classical Revival, three stories and full story attic. Yellow brick with sandstone trim, jack-arch lintels and keystones over second story windows; sandstone sills and belt courses; symmetrical facade with two off-center projecting four story tower/entrances. Romanic Ionic capitals atop engaged pilasters on south and west facades. Namcock Brothers, architects." (National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form, Summer 1982, p. 4)
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University Archives, 701-231-8914 Published by the University Archives, NDSU Last Updated: 8/27/04 |